NFL rules question: Control of the ball along the sideline

[dolphins4life]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_UucNkkorU

The timestamp in the video is 37:31

I was watching an old playoff game.

Watching this play reminded me of the Jesse James play several years ago.

I know that usually, to establish possession of the ball, you have to maintain control all the way to the ground.

However, there is a big difference.  Jesse James was never touched by anybody.

The player in the video is touched as he is going out of bounds.

Is that what can waive the requirement to maintain control of the ball all the way to the ground?  

Edit:

Here's what the rule says

If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball until after his initial contact with the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone.

In this case, the initial contact with the ground was out of bounds.

[CF DolFan]

It was a bad call as called out by the announcers. If they had challenged it then it almost definitely would have been overturned.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Not sure if the announces analysis was on point.

If the receiving team of a punt touches the ball but doesn't possess it then it becomes a live ball.

If a live ball goes out of bounds than it placed at the location it goes out of bounds to the team that last possessed the ball gets possession.

So it doesn't matter if the Patriots player got possession of the ball.  If the Ravens player had touched the ball and it then went out of bounds without any Patriots touching the ball it would have been NE's ball.  If the Raven player got possession and then fumbled the ball and it went out of bounds then it would be Raven's ball.  Likewise if the Raven's didn't touch the punted ball at all then once again it would Raven's ball.  So unless they were going to argue either:

1. the Raven's player didn't touch the ball or

2. argue that a. the Raven's player had possession of the ball AND b. NE didn't have possession

Obviously 1 fails.  So does 2 a.  rendering the question of 2 b irrelevant.

Likewise if the receiving team touches the ball and it then goes into the end zone the kicking team is awarded a safety.  

This is why sometimes receiving teams avoid punts. 

[Phishfan]

I'm not sure about that Hoodie. Everything I am seeing says a muffed punt that goes out of bounds is spotted for the receiving team. It's a different scenario than other live ball situations..

[CF DolFan]

I'm not sure about that Hoodie. Everything I am seeing says a muffed punt that goes out of bounds is spotted for the receiving team. It's a different scenario than other live ball situations..

That's how I understand it to be too. It's on the punting team to take possession after a touch. It isn't just given to them. 

[Sibster]

CF Dolfan and Phishfan are right.  Hoodie is wrong.

If the receiving team fumbles a punt or a kickoff out of bounds, the ball goes to the receiving team.   It's on the kicking team to recover a muffed punt/kickoff before the ball goes out of bounds. 

End of story.